Ever been camping? I have.
When my kids were growing up - we would go camping often.
Our first time out was with a borrowed tent. Second time too, for that matter. We got hooked!
We decided to start saving all our loose change to go towards the purchase of a big two room - family sized tent. It was an exciting quest! And watching that empty coffee can get fuller and fuller with coins - was like watching fireworks in slow motion. The anticipation was as fun as the purchase, itself, was going to be!
When we were finally able to buy it - you would have thought it was Christmas morning. We were all so excited! And, thus, started our new camping adventures - with OUR new tent!
I'd spend days pouring over all the flyers, maps and camping guides - in choosing where would be an ideal location for our interests and budget.
We'd spend days preparing, shopping, packing - all the while the anticipation of "CAMPING!" was building.
Finally. That big day! That early morning! That Christmas in July moment would arrive!
We would cram food, clothing, supplies, fishing poles, bikes - and the much awaited "new" tent into our car. We'd squish the kids in between all the piles of camping "stuff" - and off we'd go!
Usually it would take us just a couple of hours to get to our destination. But, to us, it seemed like we were going to the other side of the world! Such an adventure would await us! Such a change from the ordinary!
We'd check-in at the campground office. Get our "OoooOOoohh!!" exciting rear view mirror "tag" - proclaiming us the worthy residents of said 'campground. We'd get our campground MAP - with our site boldly circled or marked by an "X" - and - we'd proceed at the strictly imposed 15mph speed limit ... to our site!
As often as we could - we would "special request" a site. Near the water, a brook, a river, a something. It was fun, and perhaps smart, to have the added perk at our site. The kids always loved it, that's for sure.
There were, over the years, at least a couple of times - that for whatever reason - the campground owner/manager would come to our site - and without warning, instruct us that - "You'll have to move your tent, please.".
"WHAT?! HUH?! Wait. WHY??!!!" ... awww, C'MON!! - *insert various pouts, tears, confusion, annoyance, disappointment, grumblings - (and maybe a smidge of "sense of adventure"?) - *HERE*.
Maybe you've experienced having to move your tent, too.
A few years ago - I had to move, yet another, tent of mine.
I had it where I thought it should be. Where it made sense to be. I was comfortable - in most ways - where it was. I had it there a long time, in fact.
But, after a while, and after some particular circumstances - it became evident - this tent was going to have to move. And it was important that I start weighing the pro's and con's as to where to put my tent - next.
Along with that - came the familiar response of - "WHAT?! HUH?! Wait. WHY??!!!" ... aww, C'MON! (along with the various pouts, tears, confusion, annoyance .. etc ... etc. .... )
That tent was my LIFE. Literally. That tent wasn't a "tent". That tent was literally - my life.
Time and circumstances had brought me to a point of - change. Tent moving, change.
My children were no longer - children (in the age sense). I had spent the last few years as a single mom, with all the struggles that go with that role. I had been through a divorce, after a 20+ year hard marriage. My long-term job had been terminated. And many other life factors had all played into a scenario - where indeed - my live was changing drastically. With, or without, my permission.
My life-tent stakes were being pulled up - one by one, and fast.
Cue the crisis? Some days, yes.
Cue the adventure? Sometimes, yes.
Cue the confusion? Always!
But, when life moves your tent, when time moves your tent, when circumstances, disease, divorce, unemployment, natural disaster, debt, death, birth, marriage - or any number of things - moves your tent ...
... It's best to know WHO has the map.
God happens to have my map. I gave it to him.
(I tend to take wrong turns -always have, I strongly assume, always will - when left to my own impulses.)
It's much safer to let Him be the guide. Have the map. Circle your destination. He'll show you! If you let him.
Oh, sure. We're all life scarred from having our tent in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Whether we set up camp there - or life did, for us. ~ We all have live and learn lessons. Been there - done that, stories. Don't we?
And did we? Did we learn? Do we learn?
I hope I have.
Now, if you'll excuse me - I think my guide wants me to continue paying attention ....
... this tent spot of mine ALWAYS needs work. =)
When my kids were growing up - we would go camping often.
Our first time out was with a borrowed tent. Second time too, for that matter. We got hooked!
We decided to start saving all our loose change to go towards the purchase of a big two room - family sized tent. It was an exciting quest! And watching that empty coffee can get fuller and fuller with coins - was like watching fireworks in slow motion. The anticipation was as fun as the purchase, itself, was going to be!
When we were finally able to buy it - you would have thought it was Christmas morning. We were all so excited! And, thus, started our new camping adventures - with OUR new tent!
I'd spend days pouring over all the flyers, maps and camping guides - in choosing where would be an ideal location for our interests and budget.
We'd spend days preparing, shopping, packing - all the while the anticipation of "CAMPING!" was building.
Finally. That big day! That early morning! That Christmas in July moment would arrive!
We would cram food, clothing, supplies, fishing poles, bikes - and the much awaited "new" tent into our car. We'd squish the kids in between all the piles of camping "stuff" - and off we'd go!
Usually it would take us just a couple of hours to get to our destination. But, to us, it seemed like we were going to the other side of the world! Such an adventure would await us! Such a change from the ordinary!
We'd check-in at the campground office. Get our "OoooOOoohh!!" exciting rear view mirror "tag" - proclaiming us the worthy residents of said 'campground. We'd get our campground MAP - with our site boldly circled or marked by an "X" - and - we'd proceed at the strictly imposed 15mph speed limit ... to our site!
As often as we could - we would "special request" a site. Near the water, a brook, a river, a something. It was fun, and perhaps smart, to have the added perk at our site. The kids always loved it, that's for sure.
There were, over the years, at least a couple of times - that for whatever reason - the campground owner/manager would come to our site - and without warning, instruct us that - "You'll have to move your tent, please.".
"WHAT?! HUH?! Wait. WHY??!!!" ... awww, C'MON!! - *insert various pouts, tears, confusion, annoyance, disappointment, grumblings - (and maybe a smidge of "sense of adventure"?) - *HERE*.
Maybe you've experienced having to move your tent, too.
A few years ago - I had to move, yet another, tent of mine.
I had it where I thought it should be. Where it made sense to be. I was comfortable - in most ways - where it was. I had it there a long time, in fact.
But, after a while, and after some particular circumstances - it became evident - this tent was going to have to move. And it was important that I start weighing the pro's and con's as to where to put my tent - next.
Along with that - came the familiar response of - "WHAT?! HUH?! Wait. WHY??!!!" ... aww, C'MON! (along with the various pouts, tears, confusion, annoyance .. etc ... etc. .... )
That tent was my LIFE. Literally. That tent wasn't a "tent". That tent was literally - my life.
Time and circumstances had brought me to a point of - change. Tent moving, change.
My children were no longer - children (in the age sense). I had spent the last few years as a single mom, with all the struggles that go with that role. I had been through a divorce, after a 20+ year hard marriage. My long-term job had been terminated. And many other life factors had all played into a scenario - where indeed - my live was changing drastically. With, or without, my permission.
My life-tent stakes were being pulled up - one by one, and fast.
Cue the crisis? Some days, yes.
Cue the adventure? Sometimes, yes.
Cue the confusion? Always!
But, when life moves your tent, when time moves your tent, when circumstances, disease, divorce, unemployment, natural disaster, debt, death, birth, marriage - or any number of things - moves your tent ...
... It's best to know WHO has the map.
God happens to have my map. I gave it to him.
(I tend to take wrong turns -always have, I strongly assume, always will - when left to my own impulses.)
It's much safer to let Him be the guide. Have the map. Circle your destination. He'll show you! If you let him.
Oh, sure. We're all life scarred from having our tent in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Whether we set up camp there - or life did, for us. ~ We all have live and learn lessons. Been there - done that, stories. Don't we?
And did we? Did we learn? Do we learn?
I hope I have.
Now, if you'll excuse me - I think my guide wants me to continue paying attention ....
... this tent spot of mine ALWAYS needs work. =)
